Meet the Future of Conservatism

He's a "nerdy-looking" political novice, but Doug Hoffman just may be the "conservative superstar of the future," writes Marc Ambinder. Hoffman is running as a Conservative in the closely watched special election in New York’s 23rd congressional district. Despite his lack of experience, the lifelong accountant has racked up impressive credentials: He's got big financial backers, Dick Armey is stumping for him, and Fred Thompson, Michelle Malkin, and Glenn Beck are singing his praises.

Hoffman is a hardline conservative and a populist: He’s as firmly opposed to bank bailouts as abortion or new taxes. His appeal is to conservatives who feel that Obama-age Republicans are running as “Democrat-lite,” writes Ambinder in the Atlantic. He speaks to those who believe that “if only Republicans would act like true conservatives and proclaim their conservatism loudly and proudly—they'd win.” And though Hoffman may not win—he's currently in third but trending well—he’s already having an effect on the GOP.
(More Doug Hoffman stories.)